Leon was also the owner of a successful wrestling school whose students included Steve "The Brawler" Lawler,[7]"Playboy" Bobby Starr,[8]Axl Rotten[9] and Joey Maggs. He and Maggs later teamed together as The Heavy Metal Connection and twice captured the tag team titles in Buck Robley's Deep South Championship Wrestling. His murder in 1988, reportedly committed by a jealous husband over an extramarital affair, was featured in an exposé by Hustler.[10]
Jim Leon was born in Washington, D.C. in 1959. He worked as a mechanic prior to becoming a professional wrestler and later lived in Charlotte, North Carolina and Baltimore, Maryland. He initially wrestled and trained only twice a week, while still a full-time mechanic, and quit three times due to his financial situation before deciding to fully commit to a career in wrestling. Throughout the 1980s, he wrestled up and down the Eastern United States and eventually became a regular in International Championship Wrestling and the National Wrestling Federation. In 1984, under the ring name Jim Nunna, he became the first heavyweight champion for the American Wrestling Federation in Georgia; while champion he began competing under his real name.[11]
Leon also started a wrestling school in a disused boxing gym located at the corner of North Avenue and Harford road. It was a Baltimore City run gym, wherein he and Dave Coleman, a pro wrestler who had been trained by Killer Kowalski trained a number of future independent stars including Steve "The Brawler" Lawler, "Playboy" Bobby Starr, and Axl Rotten. He later formed a team with one of his students, Joey Maggs, and twice won the tag team belts in Buck Robley's Deep South Championship Wrestling (later known as Southern Championship Wrestling). He and Maggs, as The Heavy Metal Connection, became a popular tag team in the Mid-Atlantic region as well as for promotions in Mississippi and Louisiana. In 1987, Leon was featured in an article for The Charlotte Observer in which he discussed his career and his experiences on the independent circuit. He also felt hopeful that he and Maggs might be hired by the National Wrestling Alliance.[1] During the summer of 1988, while wrestling for Frank Cain's Star Cavalcade Wrestling, he and his student Axl Rotten briefly held the SCW Tag Team Championship after defeating The Smurfs (Corey Stevens & Dynamite Kid) for the titles in Montgomery, Alabama. They later dropped the belts to Rick Anderson & Snake Watson. In September, he defeated Moondog in Bainbridge, Georgia to win the promotion's heavyweight championship; the title had been held up the previous month when their last match ended in a double-disqualification.[11]
He has been credited not only for having trained some of the top Mid-Atlantic independent wrestlers of the 1980s and 90s, but for being one of the standout stars during the final years of the territory-era. Dr. Thom Parks, a former referee and well-known "dirt sheet" writer, said in a 2003 interview that Leon "was a party animal, but he was also a very talented grappler. I really think he would have went far had he lived longer. Jimmy was funny and he could have a four star match versus a broom. He really had a lot of talent. It's just too bad that more people didn't get to see it. Of course, when you party as much as he did and do some of the unwise things he did, you can't expect a long lifespan. Even though we didn't see eye to eye on everything, Jimmy was probably my best friend in the wrestling business."[3]
Death
On November 30, 1988, Leon was shot to death in Baltimore, Maryland. The Toronto Star claimed the murder had been committed by a "former tag team partner."[12] Leon's murder, specifically focusing on the aspect of his death at the hands of an irate husband over an extramarital affair, would later appear as an exposé by Hustler ("Shotgun Justice: A Pro Wrestler's Final Fall") in May 1991.[10] At the time of his murder, he was still the reigning heavyweight champion for Star Cavalcade Wrestling. The title was declared vacant immediately afterwards and won by his former student Axl Rotten after defeating The Psycho in Thomasville, Georgia.[11]
Championships and accomplishments
American Wrestling Federation
AWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time, inaugural)[11]
^ abcdeSorensen, Tom. "Young Wrestler Lawless Grapples For A Shot At The Big Time." The Charlotte Observer. 6 Nov. 1987: 3B.
^Felsenthal, Mark. "Police Find Murder Suspect In Jail – Computer Aids in Tracking Down Fugitive." The Daily Press (Newport News). 18 Mar. 1989: D6.
^ abPierce, Dale (2003-11-13). "Interview With Dr. Thom Parks". Interviews. Wrestling Then & Now. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
^Will, Gary (December 1998). . GaryWill.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
^Will, Gary (2006). "Dead Wrestlers". Dead Wrestler's List. WrestlingMuseum.com. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
^Simpson, Greg. "Mindbender's Wrestling Greats: "L"". Mindbenders Wrestling Greats. Mindbenders.ca. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
^Lawler, Steve (2008). "Biography". Steve "The Brawler" Lawler's Bio. SteveTheBrawlerLawler.com. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
^"Book "Playboy" Bobby Starr". Indy Bookings. 2004-01-11. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
^Schwan, Brett (2003). "Ten Questions With ... Axl Rotten". WrestlingClothesline.com. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
^ abFerk. "Ricki Lawless: Two-Bit Grappler on a Tag Team With Death". (May 1991). Hustler.
^ abcdefghiRoyal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
^Da Costa, Norman. "Bulldogs lasso foes to climb to the top of Calgary circuit." The Toronto Star. 22 Dec. 1988: D6.
External links
Profile at Online World of Wrestling
Profile at WrestlingData.com
January 07, 2023
ricky, lawless, medardo, jimmy, leon, december, 1959, november, 1988, american, professional, wrestler, trainer, promoter, best, known, ringname, ricky, ricki, lawless, competed, eastern, atlantic, southern, regional, territories, during, early, 1980s, being, . Medardo Jim Jimmy Leon Jr 2 3 4 5 December 3 1959 November 30 1988 was an American professional wrestler trainer and promoter best known by his ringname Bad Boy Ricky Ricki Lawless 6 who competed in Eastern Mid Atlantic and Southern regional territories during the early to mid 1980s being a veteran of International Championship Wrestling and the National Wrestling Federation 1 Ricky LawlessBirth nameMeraldo Jim Leon Jr BornDecember 3 1959 1 Washington D C United StatesDiedNovember 30 1988 1988 11 30 aged 28 Baltimore MarylandProfessional wrestling careerRing name s Ricky LawlessRicki LawlessRikki LawlessJim NunnaJim LeonBilled height6 ft 1 in 1 85 m 1 Billed weight258 lb 117 kg 1 Leon was also the owner of a successful wrestling school whose students included Steve The Brawler Lawler 7 Playboy Bobby Starr 8 Axl Rotten 9 and Joey Maggs He and Maggs later teamed together as The Heavy Metal Connection and twice captured the tag team titles in Buck Robley s Deep South Championship Wrestling His murder in 1988 reportedly committed by a jealous husband over an extramarital affair was featured in an expose by Hustler 10 Contents 1 Career 2 Death 3 Championships and accomplishments 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksCareer EditJim Leon was born in Washington D C in 1959 He worked as a mechanic prior to becoming a professional wrestler and later lived in Charlotte North Carolina and Baltimore Maryland He initially wrestled and trained only twice a week while still a full time mechanic and quit three times due to his financial situation before deciding to fully commit to a career in wrestling Throughout the 1980s he wrestled up and down the Eastern United States and eventually became a regular in International Championship Wrestling and the National Wrestling Federation In 1984 under the ring name Jim Nunna he became the first heavyweight champion for the American Wrestling Federation in Georgia while champion he began competing under his real name 11 Leon also started a wrestling school in a disused boxing gym located at the corner of North Avenue and Harford road It was a Baltimore City run gym wherein he and Dave Coleman a pro wrestler who had been trained by Killer Kowalski trained a number of future independent stars including Steve The Brawler Lawler Playboy Bobby Starr and Axl Rotten He later formed a team with one of his students Joey Maggs and twice won the tag team belts in Buck Robley s Deep South Championship Wrestling later known as Southern Championship Wrestling He and Maggs as The Heavy Metal Connection became a popular tag team in the Mid Atlantic region as well as for promotions in Mississippi and Louisiana In 1987 Leon was featured in an article for The Charlotte Observer in which he discussed his career and his experiences on the independent circuit He also felt hopeful that he and Maggs might be hired by the National Wrestling Alliance 1 During the summer of 1988 while wrestling for Frank Cain s Star Cavalcade Wrestling he and his student Axl Rotten briefly held the SCW Tag Team Championship after defeating The Smurfs Corey Stevens amp Dynamite Kid for the titles in Montgomery Alabama They later dropped the belts to Rick Anderson amp Snake Watson In September he defeated Moondog in Bainbridge Georgia to win the promotion s heavyweight championship the title had been held up the previous month when their last match ended in a double disqualification 11 He has been credited not only for having trained some of the top Mid Atlantic independent wrestlers of the 1980s and 90s but for being one of the standout stars during the final years of the territory era Dr Thom Parks a former referee and well known dirt sheet writer said in a 2003 interview that Leon was a party animal but he was also a very talented grappler I really think he would have went far had he lived longer Jimmy was funny and he could have a four star match versus a broom He really had a lot of talent It s just too bad that more people didn t get to see it Of course when you party as much as he did and do some of the unwise things he did you can t expect a long lifespan Even though we didn t see eye to eye on everything Jimmy was probably my best friend in the wrestling business 3 Death EditOn November 30 1988 Leon was shot to death in Baltimore Maryland The Toronto Star claimed the murder had been committed by a former tag team partner 12 Leon s murder specifically focusing on the aspect of his death at the hands of an irate husband over an extramarital affair would later appear as an expose by Hustler Shotgun Justice A Pro Wrestler s Final Fall in May 1991 10 At the time of his murder he was still the reigning heavyweight champion for Star Cavalcade Wrestling The title was declared vacant immediately afterwards and won by his former student Axl Rotten after defeating The Psycho in Thomasville Georgia 11 Championships and accomplishments EditAmerican Wrestling Federation AWF Heavyweight Championship 1 time inaugural 11 Atlantic Coast Wrestling ACW Heavyweight Championship 2 times 11 ACW Tag Team Championship 1 time inaugural with John Death 11 Deep South Championship Wrestling Southern Championship Wrestling SCW Southern Tag Team Championship 2 times with Joey Maggs 11 Star Cavalcade Wrestling SCW Heavyweight Championship 1 time 11 SCW Tag Team Championship 1 time with Axl Rotten 11 See also EditList of premature professional wrestling deathsReferences Edit a b c d e Sorensen Tom Young Wrestler Lawless Grapples For A Shot At The Big Time The Charlotte Observer 6 Nov 1987 3B Felsenthal Mark Police Find Murder Suspect In Jail Computer Aids in Tracking Down Fugitive The Daily Press Newport News 18 Mar 1989 D6 a b Pierce Dale 2003 11 13 Interview With Dr Thom Parks Interviews Wrestling Then amp Now Retrieved 2 November 2009 Will Gary December 1998 Gary Will Deceased Pro Wrestlers A Tribute to Mat Stars of the Past GaryWill com Archived from the original on May 23 2015 Retrieved 2 November 2009 Will Gary 2006 Dead Wrestlers Dead Wrestler s List WrestlingMuseum com Retrieved 2 November 2009 Simpson Greg Mindbender s Wrestling Greats L Mindbenders Wrestling Greats Mindbenders ca Retrieved 2 November 2009 Lawler Steve 2008 Biography Steve The Brawler Lawler s Bio SteveTheBrawlerLawler com Retrieved 2 November 2009 Book Playboy Bobby Starr Indy Bookings 2004 01 11 Retrieved 2 November 2009 Schwan Brett 2003 Ten Questions With Axl Rotten WrestlingClothesline com Retrieved 2 November 2009 a b Ferk Ricki Lawless Two Bit Grappler on a Tag Team With Death May 1991 Hustler a b c d e f g h i Royal Duncan amp Gary Will 2000 Wrestling Title Histories 4th ed Archeus Communications ISBN 0 9698161 5 4 Da Costa Norman Bulldogs lasso foes to climb to the top of Calgary circuit The Toronto Star 22 Dec 1988 D6 External links EditProfile at Online World of Wrestling Profile at WrestlingData com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ricky Lawless amp oldid 1107634838, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
